Insulting Mugabe won’t help: Mbeki

JOHANNESBURG – Shouting and swearing at the Zimbabwean government would not help resolve problems there, President Thabo Mbeki said on Saturday.

“It will really be quite easy for me to call a press conference and say ‘Bob Mugabe, these are the things I don’t like’ and make very good news,” he told delegates at the launch of The African Editors’ Forum in Kempton Park, Gauteng. “But, I am saying that is the end of the engagement.It doesn’t work.”South Africa’s approach – and that of the region – was to work together to find solutions to problems.”The easiest thing to do, as you would know, is to swear at somebody.We can.But that’s the end of the engagement.”He said this may work for other regions.”In our view it doesn’t make sense in the region here.”Shouting at one another won’t help.So – no – there is not going to be amplification of anything, but an engagement.”Mbeki and the SA government have been criticised for the “quiet diplomacy” approach to Zimbabwe’s political and other problems, including an imploding economy and human rights violations.- Nampa-Sapa”But, I am saying that is the end of the engagement.It doesn’t work.”South Africa’s approach – and that of the region – was to work together to find solutions to problems.”The easiest thing to do, as you would know, is to swear at somebody.We can.But that’s the end of the engagement.”He said this may work for other regions.”In our view it doesn’t make sense in the region here.”Shouting at one another won’t help.So – no – there is not going to be amplification of anything, but an engagement.”Mbeki and the SA government have been criticised for the “quiet diplomacy” approach to Zimbabwe’s political and other problems, including an imploding economy and human rights violations.- Nampa-Sapa